Sunday, 28 October 2012

What a wonderful gift for all of us and I hope we all make
your day special. This was so much fun.

When I saw the post for this challenge, I was super excited
because autumn is my absolutely most favorite time of the year. I love the
colors, I love the smells, I love the crunch, I love the crisp mornings and
warm afternoons, I love getting that cozy snug feeling under the extra quilt,
oh, I could go on and on. October is so
special for me because both my beautiful daughters were born in October. It is
an incredibly busy time with birthday celebrations and Thanksgiving feasts. It
is a time for getting together with family and a time for being thankful for
all you have and all you love.

I challenged myself even further by trying some new techniques for me, bead crochet and polymer clay. I had so much fun with both and I like how the pieces turned out.

Autumn Colors

Polymer clay earrings

Polymer Clay pendant and earrings

This is Autumn

Tell take sign autumn is here!

Golden Glory

A big thank you and a big happy birthday to our hostess Rita, and without further ado on to the rest of the participants.

Sunday, 21 October 2012

....we've had our first snow but thankfully it didn't stick around. I don't know, there is just something wrong with snow that comes and stays before Halloween. I will keep my fingers crossed for the next week. I have been busy, busy, making the projects for October Fest and for Beading Babes, such fun, I can't wait for reveal days; but in the meantime I have learned a new skill (for me at least) and that is "bead crochet". I am quite proud of myself for mastering this technique, and even though I am only in the beginning phase I enjoy it so muchI can see more designs just waiting to happen. The crocheted rope is so flexible, works up fast and feels really good to wear.

Olathe, means beautiful in Native American and I think a very appropriate name for this piece. I used size 8 seed beads in my favorite colors to make the rope then added a slider bead (made using tubular peyote) in the same colors with just a hint of silver. Love, love, love it.

Friday, 12 October 2012

When I first saw this focal I
knew I had to have it and I knew exactly what I was going to make. I love the
southwest look, and larimar is one of my favorite stones to work with. I mixed tiny blue pearls, turquoise beads
(blue and green), seed beads and silver findings and my inspiration came to
life. I didn’t want to take away from the beauty of the larimar focal so I kept
the bezel simple and understated. The silver leaves just added that extra bit of
zip. As I made this necklace the song “Streets of Laredo” kept running through
my mind, I’m not sure why and can’t think where I would have heard that song but
the name stuck.....Laredo.

If you believe in folklore,
larimar is believed to have powers to help us view events from different
perspectives, to soften and enlighten, to heal the emotional, physical, mental
and spiritual body. Larimar stimulates the heart, throat, third eye and crown
chakras promoting inner wisdom. It represents peace and clarity, healing and
love. Larimar is reputed to be helpful for those experiencing stress and
anxiety (I guess I’ll be wearing it everyday!)

Saturday, 6 October 2012

Christmas
came early in the north country, oh what fun, oh how exciting ... waiting for
the parcel was exactly like anticipating presents on Christmas morning. I was
so fortunate to be partnered with Leanne Loftus. She hails from Pennsylvania and
is relatively new to blog world just like me. Leanne and I opted to just let
our creative juices flow and surprise each other. I read Leanne's blog front to
back (more like top to bottom) to get a feel for what Leanne might like and I
hope she is pleased with her little gift. It was so much fun participating in
the Holiday Bling Blog hop, knowing that what I made was
going to someone far away and would be received as a little gift from a like
minded individual. A big holiday wish and thank you to Shelley and Marlene for
hosting such a fun hop. It made winter's coming so much cheerier.

This was
my amazing and beautiful gift from Leanne. She spoiled me! I have already worn
the set and received many compliments. Thank you Leanne!